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Favorite Tower of Power to play, Rocco Prestia

Discussion in 'Recordings [BG]' started by RyanOh, Sep 2, 2019.


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  1. Sep 2, 2019 #1
    RyanOh

    RyanOh Gold Supporting Member

    Jun 10, 2016
    Providence, RI, United States
    For fun, I learned Funk the Dumb Stuff from this great transcription:


    Besides What is Hip, what's your favorite to play?
    Do you play it on gigs or just for fun?

    EDIT: Adding What is Hip here too, in case anyone wants to check it out. Thanks @Mtheory
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2019
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  5. Sep 2, 2019 #2
    Lesfunk

    Lesfunk Bootlegger guitars : S.I.T. Strings Supporting Member

    Apr 5, 2007
    Florida USA
    “Credit”
     
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  9. Sep 2, 2019 #3
    RyanOh

    RyanOh Gold Supporting Member

    Jun 10, 2016
    Providence, RI, United States
    Reminds me of Keep On Truckin', same F minor riff, different swing feel....and the Rocco factor.

    EDIT: Take care down there!
     
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  13. Sep 2, 2019 #4
    Mtheory

    Mtheory

    Nov 2, 2009
    wa
    I learned what is hip last night by watching a transcription from that same guy (i'm pretty sure), which is how I ended up in this thread today. I better work on funk the dumb stuff now.
     
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  18. Sep 2, 2019 #5
    dtripoli

    dtripoli

    Aug 15, 2010
    CA
    Just for fun, period.
    I've played a ToP song or two with a horn band and I could barely hang in.
    15 mins of playing 16th and 32nd(If there is such a thing) notes killed me. Flub the groove and the song deteriorates to a train wreck.
    I don't run marathons or play more than 3 mins of 16th notes and even that is hand cramping. Even their few slow songs are challenging.
    Any time I start feeling really talented and cocky then start to let up on regular woodshedding, I play along to any ToP song and my humbleness comes back...usually smack-dab in the face. So, it's "Down to the Nightclub, Bump-dee Bump-dee Bump."
    Another favorite is the instrumental, 'Squib Cakes'
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2019
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  22. Sep 2, 2019 #6
    kesslari

    kesslari Groovin' with the Fusion Cats Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Dec 21, 2007
    Santa Cruz Mtns, California
    Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
    Used to play "The Skunk, the Goose, and the Fly" in a band. Loved it.
    Love playing "What is Hip", "Only So Much Oil in the Ground", and "Knock Yourself Out" on my own as well.
     
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  26. Sep 2, 2019 #7
    Renaissance

    Renaissance

    Nov 17, 2008
    South Carolina
    "Digging On James Brown", just for fun.
     
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  30. Sep 2, 2019 #8
    SLO Surfer

    SLO Surfer

    Jun 3, 2009
    Los Osos, CA
    Soul with a capital S
     
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  34. Sep 2, 2019 #9
    trevcda

    trevcda

    Mar 8, 2007
    Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
    Attitude Dance. Learned it just for fun, as my current band isn't likely to put the time into learning it. I did get the chance to jam it with another band in front of a sizeable crowd, back east a couple of years ago. That kicked ass!
     
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  38. Sep 2, 2019 #10
    RyanOh

    RyanOh Gold Supporting Member

    Jun 10, 2016
    Providence, RI, United States
    Thanks. Didn't know Benny did that one too, added to the OP.
     
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  42. Sep 2, 2019 #11
    Bassheart365

    Bassheart365

    Oct 19, 2014
    Northern California
    "A good bassist determines the direction of any band." - Ron Carter
    I just played Diggin' on James Brown this afternoon at a gig. But I gotta go with What Is Hip as my hands down favorite Rocco bassline to play.
     
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  47. Sep 3, 2019 #12
    logdrum

    logdrum A person! Supporting Member

    Jun 24, 2002
    ABQ/SF, New Mexico/East Bay NorCal
    "There is only so much Oil" - is the finger buster. I know Bobby Vega played with them as well, not sure if on albums or live but he does a mean pick driven 16th note funk as well.
     
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  51. Sep 3, 2019 #13
    twinjet

    twinjet Powered by GE90s; fueled with coffee. Staff Member Supporting Member

    Sep 23, 2008
    49
    Just getting into Tower of Power. Saw them for the first time last week, had this guy named Marc on bass. No Rocco, sadly.

    You're Still a Young Man might have been my favorite of what I heard that evening. Such good listening.
     
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  55. Sep 3, 2019 #14
    Wasnex

    Wasnex

    Dec 25, 2011
    Yep...this is the version I like.
     
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  59. Sep 3, 2019 #15
    jamro217

    jamro217

    Apr 12, 2013
    Beautiful coastal Rhode Island
    Both "What Is Hip" and "Credit" are the standouts, but my favorites to play are "A Little Knowledge Is A Dangerous Thing" and "Cruise Control". So many great choices, though. You can't go wrong.
     
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  63. Sep 3, 2019 #16
    oren

    oren

    Aug 7, 2007
    Salem, OR
    Squib Cakes!
     
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  67. Sep 3, 2019 #17
    Dana R Gregory

    Dana R Gregory

    May 12, 2014
    Deland, Florida
    What is Hip and Funkifize were my favorites to play. Rocco was the king of the 1/16 notes. :D
     
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  71. Sep 3, 2019 #18
    Ric Vice

    Ric Vice Supporting Member

    Jul 2, 2005
    Olivette, Missouri
    There is a Tower of Power book of Bass Lines by Rocco. I’ll add that Down to the Night Club is one of my favorite lines.
     
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  76. Sep 3, 2019 #19
    Carl Hillman

    Carl Hillman

    Jan 1, 2010
    Some day I'd like to work this up and play it with a band as a break tune, but that would require everybody (including me) to know where "1" is.

     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2019
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  80. Sep 3, 2019 #20
    FrenchBassQC

    FrenchBassQC Supporting Member

    Jul 13, 2011
    Gatineau QC CA
    Use to play that one to when I was in a 7 piece band.
     
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